Royal New Kent (Providence Forge VA)

Mike Strantz became a household name when he designed back to back Golf Digest best new public golf courses with Stonehouse in 1996 and Royal New Kent in 1997. 

I played Royal New Kent bout ten years ago on a spring trip to Virginia. It was the first time I planned a trip around one particular course as opposed to going to a destination and playing golf. Royal New Kent is like playing "Golden Tee" in real life. Some of the holes are unlike anything seen on a course before. And the fact that Stranz takes you on a two to three minute cart ride after each hole to get to the next hole cements the video game feeling. 

#1 418/396 par 4; 

The first hole gets things started off with a bold and intimidating tee shot. It's important to take the correct line and trust ones swing to carry over the hill and high grass. Once in the fairway, it's a more traditional approach as the hole goes uphill to a two tier green. 

#2 557/537 par 5;

One of the craziest par fives I've ever seen. It's basically a C-shaped hole curving around a ravine. There's many playing options as the lines differentiate on a daily basis pending ones game brought to the course. It might be one of the few times that a layup off the tee leaves the best chance to get home in two. Gimmicky? Maybe. But very exciting nonetheless. 

#3 191/176 par 3;

A partially hidden green across the ravine makes this a tough par three to get aggressive off the tee. Anything to the middle is the best option as the slopes funnel it there anyway. 

#4 452/431 par 4;

The fairway is hidden off the tee by a large hill on the left. Kinda have to trust the yardages and the white stone that short grass exists on the other side. I guess this is what they mean by Ireland experience. There is a lot of room and bailout area by the green to salvage a par on this long par four. 

#5 590/576 par 5;

This is a great par five! The spectacle bunkers cut into the ridge makes this such a daunting par five especially since a good drive is needed to be able to carry them on the second shot. Once that's accomplished, then a simple third shot should give a reasonable chance for birdie. 

#6 427/404 par 4;

This is a tough uphill par four. The green has several tiers and a severe false front. No green side bunkers are needed here. It's a very difficult two putt unless you knock it close with the approach. 

#7 197/186 par 3;

Three tier green has water left and sand right. The green is 51 yards deep so it's much more important to know the pin location so the correct club can be hit. 

#8 418/403 par 4;

This is one of the best holes on the course. The tee shot must be squeezed between water left and sand right. The approach,however, is the real gem as the green is uphill situated in a hidden vale. A perfect tee shot will leave a partial view, otherwise it's a blind second. 

#9 407/379 par 4;

There's a ton of fairway to drive the ball into but at 100 yards the hole narrows considerably. An aggressive tee shot will leave just a sand wedge to an uphill bunkerless green. 

#10 567/537 par 5;

This is a little more traditional par five that plays downhill before dogleg left around a large waste bunker. The second shot is key as you try get an angle to the pin. Layup short of sand, hit past it, or carry it. Good chance for birdie. 

#11 417/401 par 4;

Tough uphill par four. Drive has several bunkers to contend with before hitting to elevated green. No room to miss with flag on the right. 

#12 221/202 par 3;

Wow what a par three!! It's 86 yards deep and there are some real beauties when it comes to the pin location. A flag in the rear right might actually be blind! This is one of my favorite holes. It s really cool. 

#13 366/346 par 4;

Strantz has been showing his imagination throughout the round and thirteen is a classic strategic par four. Challenge the bunker on the right and the entire length of the green is open to the approach. Steer away and it's an awkward angle. 

#14 344/333 par 4;

This is another beautiful par four. The plays are to either layup to where two hills narrow or to try to clobber a drive over the hills just short of the green. It's a birdie opportunity regardless which way you play it. 

#15 249/229 par 3;

Elevated tee to elevated green. If you come up short the ball will roll down the hill twenty or thirty yards. I hear there are bunch of homes surrounding it now which is too bad. It's the least interesting par three on the course. 

#16 476/459 par 4;

This is the real bruiser of Royal New Kent. The drive must be hit well to have any chance of hitting the green in regulation. If I remember correctly, the fairway is sloped with the ball above you. A par is a great score. 

#17 562/537 par 5;

This par five gets a lot of flak because the green is tucked behind a grove of trees with a creek fronting it. Reaching this in two is unlikely and that's the complaint. No fireworks on a hole that could really provide them. Still it's a good birdie chance. 

#18 418/403 par 4;

This is another hole that gets a lot of flak. It's the only hole with a pond fronting the  green and this is a penisula green to boot. It's a contrived par four and kinda a downer after some really good interesting holes. Plop a few in the water and your round could be ruined. 

I thought this was a great course when I first played it but looking back I ve toned down my opinion. I'm not a big fan of the large gaps tween green and next tee. It makes a cart mandatory and takes away from the flow. It's definitely a fun course to play. I give it a 6 (very good) rating.